The Russians boasted of the new Malva self-propelled guns and the Scalpel UAV: ISW indicated what the enemy was concerned about

What is the situation at the enemy’s front / Collage 24 Channel (Photo Getty Images)

Russia boasted of new Scalpel drones and Malva self-propelled artillery systems. The enemy resorts to such actions against the backdrop of equipment losses.

Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War said that the enemy is trying to introduce technological innovations to optimize systems of use in Ukraine.

Why does the enemy announce new technology at the front?

The Vostok design bureau in Barnaul, Altai Territory, announced on September 7 that it was testing Scalpel drones. Already in October, the enemies announced plans to begin mass production of new loitering ammunition for the army.

The Vostok battalion itself operates along the borders of the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions. Its commander, Alexander Khodakovsky, said that shortly after the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, some Russian units ran out of Lancet UAVs. Therefore, the occupier hoped that more new kamikaze drones would help preserve their manpower and “target Ukrainian military targets.”

Additionally, so-called Russian bloggers claimed that the occupiers were deploying more effective artillery systems in Ukraine, but were concerned about Ukrainian counter-battery capabilities.

Thus, a Russian milibloger stated that the new 152-mm Malva self-propelled artillery system improves Russia’s combat operations in Ukraine. Enemy state defense conglomerate Rostec on October 26 said it had delivered the first batch of Malva artillery systems to Russian troops and said the equipment needed less time to redeploy from firing positions.

Focusing on rapid withdrawal from firing positions could be a response to Russian concerns about Ukraine's predominant counter-battery capabilities on the front line, ISW said.

At the same time, Russian Milbloggers were concerned that their Malva did not have protective equipment to protect against attacks from Ukrainian FPV drones. Enemies claimed that they did not know of a single Russian unit in Ukraine that used an artillery system without any defensive capability.

Only 10–15% of the personnel remained in the Russian assault detachments

The Ukrainian Defense Forces stated that the enemies in some enemy assault units had 10-15% of the initial number of personnel left. That is why the Russian command is trying to create new assault troops.

The speaker of the Tauride Defense Forces, Alexander Shtupun, explained that the enemy is the first to throw the Storm and Storm-Z units onto the front line. Therefore, they are the ones who suffer very significant losses.

In some of them, about 10–15% of the initial number of personnel remained. But the Russian command continues to try to form new similar units. By and large, these are future suicide bombers,” the speaker said.